Articulation as Identity Marker of Nigerian English

Language differentiates one group from another. It serves as a means of identity in a multilingual nation such as Nigeria where English language is spoken as lingua franca by the people who belong to different ethnic groups and who need to communicate with one another. In communication, the native languages of many Nigerian are observed to interfere with their use of English. In this research work, the variety of English languagespoken by the educated Nigerians is brought to the fore. It is widely believed among researchers particularly into Nigerian English studies that the varieties of English language spoken by Nigerians reveal their identity. Thus, language is a major variable among others that reveal the identity of a people.